Tufts hosts opioid abuse prevention seminar

Middlesex Attorney General Marian Ryan led a panel of police and community advocates with one goal: end the stigma of opioid addiction.

By Allison Wharton / medford@wickedlocal.com

The Medford Chamber of Commerce and Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition held a forum at Breed Hall at Tufts University on June 14 for employers regarding the opioid epidemic.

The point of this business forum is to end the stigma surrounding addiction and how employers can be proactive in watching for signs of opioid abuse and prevent addiction from starting.

The keynote address was given by Middlesex County Attorney General, Marian T. Ryan.

"We have to change the way we look at the problem," said Ryan.

Ryan showed a map of opioid-related fatalities in Middlesex County from 2012 to 2016. This year, 94 related causalities have already occurred.

She spoke about different initiatives that have been developed in Middlesex County, mostly catering to the children and families of those suffering with addiction.

Project C.A.R.E is a rapid response intervention for a child who witnesses a loved one overdose. Project Linus is an initiative for people to make and donate blankets for first responders to give to children.

"Seniors love making them," she said.

The Prescription Drug Disposal Program involves the distribution of informative cards that show how a person should properly dispose of their remaining prescription medication.

"Today is the 10th straight day without a related death or overdose, the longest streak this year," she said.

This marks a 10.5 percent decrease from last year’s number. At this time, last year, the number of deaths was 126, Ryan added.

Panelists speak, take questions

The event also had two panels. One consisted of three members of the police force and the other had three members of the community who help victims and their families.

These panels gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions, mostly regarding what an employer can do to help their employees and how to approach an employee that might be addicted.

Wakefield Police Chief, Richard Smith, added, "You have an obligation to help your employees. If you don’t know what to do, call us. We aren’t going to lock them up. We are going to help."

The community support panel was more geared toward educating businesses about the effects of addiction, not only on the person but their families as well.

Cheryl Delafano is a Medford resident who started and continues to run the Medford chapter of Families Anonymous, a 12-step weekly support group for families of people suffering from addiction. Both of her daughters were addicts. One is "doing fine" but the other keeps spiraling.

"I’m so afraid she is going to die. I hate this disease," she said.

Richard Winant is a certified recovery coach and is head of Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH). His main point revolved around maintaining good communication.

"It is the first step towards healing," Winant said.

Elena Giurleo also has a personal connection with addiction. Her brother passed away two years ago after battling addiction for eight years.

"I truly believed he would overcome it," she said while tearing up. "He would go through detox but the next step was always missing."

Giurleo began developing the organization, Clean Closet, as a senior thesis but now wants to make it a reality. The organization will provide business clothes for addicts so they can pursue their dream job.

"To help others like my brother, is a dream," said Giurleo.

The conference concluded with two lawyers, Arielle Kristan and Catherine E. Reuben, from Hirsch Roberts Weinstein, LLP, who provided information regarding certain obligations that are a part of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act.

They provided advice on how an employer should approach an employee if they are a suspected addict.

"If you are going to get anything out of this presentation, employers should have their own policies on drugs and enforce them equally. Don’t signal one person out," said Kristan.